“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
Do you remember Marsha from yesterday? Devastated at the news of her sister’s leukemia, Marsha lashed out angrily at her pastor and said awful things that she really didn’t mean. A much shaken Pastor Kenward left the hospital and returned to his office at the church. All the way home he prayed for Marsha and her family. Although he had dealt with people in their sorrow and anger, never had he experienced this level of bitter reaction. The Lord gave the young pastor a great love for Marsha and her family. He was quite surprised when his phone rang two hours later. It was a very broken and repentant Marsha. “Pastor,” she sobbed, “what have I done? A little while after you left, my sister Amanda was brought back to her room. After I told her what I said to you, she scolded me soundly. She said, ‘How dare you rob me of the blessing God wants to give me? He is my sun and shield. He gives me grace and glory. He has said that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. And here you stand, Marsha, in my room, walking and talking the opposite of uprightly. You call our pastor and apologize to him after you apologize to the Lord.’ So Pastor, I’ve apologized to the Lord and want to apologize to you as well. I am so ashamed.” Marsha sobbed into the phone. There is a great lesson to be learned in this. I’ll share it with you tomorrow.
For today: Do you really believe Psalm 84:11? How will this play out in your life today?